In addition to our previous blog about Instagram violation issues to look out for, we felt there was enough to say even more in a secondary blog all about Prohibited Words.
As we know, not all violations are clearly indicated by Instagram and can catch us out, and this is certainly the case with some keywords you may wish to include in your Instagram captions/subtitles etc.
Some of the words featured below could get your shadowbanned or your account restricted in some way, which can be damaging for your visibility online.
These words don’t just refer to captions, but also words you might feature in Reels and Stories too!
AND Instagram also includes emojis in this view, so emojis like 💵 💰 and even symbol replacements (m*ney) that attempt to escape detection, so be aware.
Prohibited Words on Instagram (2025 Update)
Including words that are similar or related to:
Promises of earnings: “earnings,” “money,” “purchase,” “payment,” “income,” “cash,” “sales,” “commission,” “passive income,” “financial freedom,” especially when making quick or guaranteed profit claims.
Boosting engagement on Instagram: “boosting,” “likes,” “engagement chat,” “followers,” “algorithm hack,” “reach boost,” “grow fast,” “gain followers,” especially when encouraging artificial engagement.
Contests and giveaways: “giveaway,” “lottery,” “gift,” “free,” “prize,” “win,” “gifted,” “exclusive offer,” “free entry,” “claim now,” which are often flagged due to frequent misuse.
Sales and promotions: “promotion,” “discount,” “sale,” “low prices,” “clearance,” “link in bio,” “ad,” “buy now,” “advertisement,” “limited time offer,” “flash sale,” “checkout,” “best deal,” which can trigger algorithmic restrictions.
Content related to violence and cruelty: “death,” “suicide,” “murder,” “abuse,” “torture,” “victim,” “genocide,” “terrorism,” “violence,” “abortion,” “trauma,” “assault,” “crisis,” “disturbing,” “suffering,” which are considered sensitive and potentially harmful.
Erotica or adult content: “sex,” “penis,” “vagina,” “orgasm,” “pornography,” “OnlyFans,” “explicit,” “nude,” “XXX,” “kink,” “sugar daddy,” “fetish,” “NSFW,” which are explicit and against the guidelines.
Clearly false statements: “fake,” “liar,” “scam,” “hacker,” “spam,” “fraud,” “hoax,” “misleading,” “unverified,” which are often associated with misinformation or fraudulent behaviour.
Illegal activities: “theft,” “drugs,” “weapons,” “explosion,” “bomb,” “counterfeit,” “black market,” “dark web,” “hacking,” “stolen,” related to criminal activities.
AI & Deepfake Content (2025 Update): “deepfake,” “AI-generated,” “synthetic media,” “fake video,” “fake voice,” “manipulated,” especially if it’s not clearly labeled as AI-generated content. Instagram is cracking down on deceptive AI use.
Weight loss & body-related claims (2025 Update): “lose weight fast,” “fat burning,” “instant results,” “get thin,” “shredded,” “body transformation,” “before & after,” due to concerns about misleading health claims.
Other banned content categories: Including offensive language, racial or gender discrimination, and any form of hate speech or harmful content.
If You’re Selling or Partnering with Brands on Instagram…
It’s almost impossible to avoid certain keywords—especially if you sell products, run ads, or collaborate with brands. Just remember: your reach may dip because of Instagram’s content filters, but that doesn’t mean your audience isn’t interested. It’s simply how the platform works behind the scenes.
The Call-to-Action Controversy
In 2024, Instagram briefly confirmed something creators have suspected for years: using direct calls to action like “like,” “comment,” “share,” or “follow” in captions can reduce reach. They even posted a video about it on the official @creators account… only to delete it a few hours later. 🤦🏻♀️😂
No explanation, no follow-up—just gone. But the fact that they removed it so quickly makes it pretty clear the restriction is still very much alive.
To help you avoid engagement penalties, try swapping your CTAs for these softer alternatives:
✔️ Instead of “Follow me” → Join my audience
✔️ Instead of “Like this post” → Tap that heart!
✔️ Instead of “Comment below” → Say “yes” below
✔️ Instead of “Share with a friend” → Spread the news!
So maybe as we appriach the end fo the ayear you might want to take sosme time to reviews your content agains the inforamtion in this and our previous blog. Best to make soje chnages nbow to prevent being restricted or banned in 2026!
If you want to learn more about Instagram(additional blogs here) and quality content planning for your socials, please do get in touch at [email protected] and we can discuss what funded and non-funded options I can offer you.
